The 7 best weekend trips with bullet trains from shanghai

 

High-speed rail (HSR), or bullet trains, are quite convenient for travelling destinations close to Shanghai. Have you ever heard of the destinations that Expats Holidays listed below for weekend trips with bullet trains?

 

Wuxi

Wuxi, also called the “Taihu Pearl,” is a city famous for its culture and its more than 3000 years old history. At Shantouyu, praised as “the best place to view Taihu Lake”, the great Lingshan Buddha is majestic, the air is filled with incense and the sense of Zen at Wuxi’s Nianhua Bay is strong. There are interesting and appealing antiquities with a long history contained in the Donglin Academy. Jiangnan’s famous Jichang, Li, and Mei Gardens display the exquisite garden appearance of Wuxi. Wuxi has had an abundance of quality products since ancient times and is China’s famous “land of rice and fish.” The Taihu Sanbai (“three whites”) whitefish, whitebait, and white prawn are all great delicacies of the area.

Getting There: 30 minutes by bullet train from Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station.

 

 

Nanjiang

Surround by its city wall, this modern metropolis served as the capital city of many dynasties throughout China’s existence. Home to several temples, the Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall and the former Presidential Palace, this is a city full of history. Head to Purple Mountain where you can find the tomb of the first Ming Emperor and Sun Yat-Sen’s Mausoleum. It is also the home of the porcelain tower, which is a modern style replicate from the original built in the 15th century, just like the intersection of old and new in Nanjing.

Getting There: One hour by bullet train from Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station.

 

 

 

Ningbo

Once a prosperous port city, now a modern city which combined various Chinese and Western architectural styles. The town of the Jiang clan is not only famous as the hometown of Chiang Kai-shek, but also is surrounded by a beautiful natural landscape. It is located in the vicinity of Huadou Mountain’s many waterfalls and close to the beautiful Tingxia Lake. Stroll along the old Ningbo Bund and enjoy a local beer or delicacy. You can either visit the Chenghuang Temple snack market for Ningbo dumplings and cuisine, or you can go to Baisha Market or Baisha Wharf to have a taste of local seafood at the open-air stalls.
Getting There: Two hours by bullet train from Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station.

 

 

Hefei

Hefei offers all kinds of places to meet the varying needs and desires of travelers. The waterside cloisters and balconied pavilions combined create the variegated style of Xiaoyaojin Park. The dignified hall of Black Faced Judge Bao is said to be just like a “green shell on a silver plate”. Leave the city for the ancient town of Sanhe, with its characteristic Hui-style architecture, and the two outlying forest preserves of Zipeng Mountain and Dashu Mountain. Meandering waters around Mt. Hui paint an idyllic picture of the natural landscape intertwined with a sense of culture.
Getting There: Two hours by bullet train from Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station.

 

 

Xuzhou

Historically, it was known as one of the Nine Huaxia States. It is the famous hometown of emperors and the site of many ancient battlefields. Because this place has such large quantity of cultural heritage items, famous historical sites and ruins and a profound historical heritage, it is also called “Oriental Athens”. Western and Eastern Han Culture is represented by the Han Terracotta Warriors, the Han Tombs and the Han Dynasty Stone Carvings, which are particularly eye-catching. Yunlong Mountain and Quanshan National Forest Park are scenic areas combining the fierceness of northern China with the elegant beauty of southern China.
Getting There: Two hours by bullet train from Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station.

 

 

 

Wuyi Mountain

Wuyi in Zhejiang province is not only famous for its lotus seeds. Home to China’s largest reserves of fluorite, it is known for its rich mineral resources, beautiful mountainous scenery and hot springs. Popular attractions include Yanfu Temple, Mount Niutou, Qingshui Bay Hot Springs Resort, the ancient village of Yuyuan and the Dahongyan Rock.
Getting There: Two and a half hours by bullet train from Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station.

 

Yangzhou

Yangzhou has always been a gathering place of culture and a scenic, flourishing city with many famous historical sites, ruins, and elegant gardens. The scenery of Shouxi Lake is beautiful and perfect for a peaceful day. There are countless beautiful natural landscapes like the He Garden with its reputation as the “City Mountain Forest”, as well as the Geyuan Garden known as the year-round rock garden and the remains of the residences of the emperors Sui Yang Di, Kangxi, and Qianlong.
Getting There: Three hours by bullet train from Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station.